Chinese surname No.164 Ke
CHUNG Yoon-Ngan
Chinese surname No.164 Ke
Ke means : the stem of the branches of a tree or a grass.
e.g. Ke is written as Mu4 (wood) + Ke3 (can)
Surname Ke is about 3100 years old.
This is the history of surname Ke.
Jiang Shang4 alias Jiang Zi3 Ya2 was 32 years old when he was admitted
to a monastery. He wanted to become an immortal. For many years he could
not achieve his ambition.
During the reign of King Zhou4 (regined 1154BC to 1122BC) he left the
monastery. He got married to a woman who bore him no child. Later he
married again. The second wife bore him two sons. He went to business.
But he failed mesirably as he did not have the know-how to do business.
Eventually he became a part-time fisherman.
Ji Chang was the leader of the Zhou people who lived in the region of
Wei4 Valley west of the great bend of Huang2 He2 (Yellow River). His domain
was within the empire of the Shang Dynasty. He was obliged to serve as an
advisor in the Shang Court in the capital Chao2 Ge (present day Qi2 Xian4
in Henan province).
King Zhou4 was a wicked and cruel King. Later he imprisoned Ji Chang for
three years and also killed his son Ji Kao3 who was his assistant. After
his release Ji Chang returned to his home land. He died soon after. His son
Ji Fa became the leader of the Zhou people.
Jiang Zi3 Ya2 had been employed by Ji Chang before he went to the
capital to serve the wicked King Zhou4. Now Ji Fa appointed him as the
commander in chief of the Zhou armed forces.
Under his command there was a young general by the name of Ke Lu2. As he
was already very old and General Ke was still very young and capable Jiang
Zi3 Ya2 relied heavily on him to do all the active duties. General Jiang
spent most of the time studying military strategies and tactics.
In 1122BC Ji Fa destroyed the Shang Dynasty. He established the Zhou
Dynasty. He was known as King Wu3. He rewarded the title Hou2 (Marquis)
to Jiang Zi3 Ya2 for his services as the commander in chief. Later King Wu3
delegated him power to rule a district called Qi2 (present day Lin2 Zi
Xian4 in Shandong province). It was renamed as the State of Qi2. With him
was the young general Ke Lu2 who settled down in Qi2. Ke Lu2 married and
had many children. He surnamed them KE. That was the origin of surname Ke.
Surname Ke was originated in an area called Ji4 Yang2 Prefecture
during the Jin Dynasty (265AD to 420AD).
Ji4 means : help; aid; relieve.
Yang2 means : the sun; bright; clear; masculine; positive.
The present day location of Ji4 Yang2 Prefecture is in
Ding4 Tao2 Xian4 in Shandong province China.
CHUNG Yoon-Ngan. chu...@mozart.collective.com.au "the story teller".